The Mark Sanchez Era in New York Ends
From this, to this, in four years …
ESPNNY – Takeaways on the news that New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez has a labral tear in his throwing shoulder and likely will have surgery at some point, as reported by ESPN senior NFL analyst Chris Mortensen:
Sanchez’s once-promising career with the Jets is effectively over. Even if he doesn’t opt for immediate surgery, he’d be a candidate for injured reserve. He probably would have been released after the season anyway, but the injury all but cements it… The organization should be embarrassed by the way it has treated Sanchez… Sanchez conceivably could try to rehabilitate the injury in hopes of returning this season, but for what? At this point, he needs to think of his career, not the franchise that will surely discard him after the season.
Even though this day’s been coming for a while now, I have to admit I’m profoundly sad about it. I’ve never known any two people who were as perfect for each other as Sanchize and me. He was the Yin to my Yang. The Joker to my Batman. He completed me. I first noticed him at his press conference at USC declaring himself eligible for the draft, and Pete Carroll sat there right next to him saying he was being stupid and wasn’t ready. Something about that just touched me deep. Then the Jets moved up to get him and guys like KFC and Mike Greenberg were over the moon about it. I knew right then and there he and I were meant to be together. Him being the latest in a long line of Jets saviors crashing and burning, and me making ‘Smores on the flames like I’d been doing my whole life. And it turned out to be everything I dreamed about and more. The ghey modeling shoots (as opposed to Brady’s totally masculine Alpha Male ones). Him banging the 16 year old high school girl. All the turnovers. His career learning curve so flat you could use it to level shelves. The season of “Hard Knocks” where he showed all the passion and leadership of James Franco in “Pineapple Express.” The 18 million times Rex had to throw insincere support behind him. Even the big wins over the Pats like the 2011 playoff game where he played flawlessly, which made it interesting.
But mostly of course, we’ll have the Ass Fumble:
The blooper highlight that will live on in the memory as long as there are blooper highlights. That is to my and Sanchez’ relationship what Paris was to Rick and Ilsa. We’ll always have the Ass Fumble. My all time most cherished Thanksgiving memory. So good nice, Sweet Prince. Geno Smith will no doubt turn into the next colossal Jets’ bust. But he’ll never be Mark Sanchez. Here’s looking at you, kid. @JerryThornton1
